Letter-box



A. N. KLEIN.

(No Model.)

LETTER BOX.

No. 476,657. Patented June '7, 1892.

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ANTHONY KLEIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,657, dated June 7,1892.

Application filed September 15, 1891. Serial No. 405,755. (No model.)

To (oZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, ANTHONY N. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLetter-Box Attachments; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains tomake, use, and practice the same.

My invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements inattachments for mail-boxes; and it consists in the arrangement of partsand details of construction, as will be hereinafter more fully set forthin the drawings and described and pointed out in the specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a letter-drop attachment formail-boxes which will obviate or overcome the necessity of the useremploying both hands for the purpose of mailing a letter, as is now invogue-that is to say, with one hand he is enabled to open theletter-drop and deposit the letter within the mail-box, while by theemployment of the boxes now in use it is necessary that one hand beemployed for the purpose of opening the drop while the other depositsthe letter therein, which, in case the depositor has the arm filled withbundles or the like, it becomes necessary to first lay the same aside inorder to open the drop and mail the letterand at the same time provideagainst admission of dust, rain, snow, or the like, thereby maintainingthe box free from dampness; and my invention further consists inproviding an attachment which shall be simpler in its construction,easier of operation, more durable, and less expensive than any of asimilar nature heretofore known to me.

Referring to the drawings forminga part of this specification, whereinsimilar letters of reference are used to denote corresponding partsthroughout the entire specification and drawings, Figure 1 is aperspective view, in elevation, showing my attachment applied to the topof an ordinary mail-box; Fig. 2, a crosssectional view of theletter-drop attachment, and Fig. 3 a front view in elevation thereof.

The letter A is used to represent an ordinary mail-box, to the top A ofwhich is secured the letter-drop attachment B, which attachment may ormay not be formed integral with the mail-box proper, thereby permittingof the same being readily secured to the boxes now in use, consequentlyovercoming the necessity of making an entire new box for the purpose ofconnecting thereto my attachment.

By preference I construct the letter-drop portion B of one piece andprovide the same with the overlapping hood or protector b, whichprovides against indriving rain, snow, or the like. Between theforwardly-extending ears I) is pivotally secured the gravitydrop C,which swings inwardly within the letter-drop attachment. The lower endor bottom 0 of the gravity-drop is formed at an incline or beveled andis provided with the forwardly-extending portion d, which is adapted toform a seat wherein rests the edge (2 of the upwardly-extending wall Dof the letterdrop attachment, which edge is made at an inclineoppositely to that of the letter-drop bottom.

As will be noticed by reference to Fig. 2, the gravity-drop swings at anincline. Consequently any water or snow which may beat thereagainstwillrun therefrom to the beveled edge d of the wall D and fall thereoff,thus effectually providing against admission of water.

As will be not-iced by reference to Figs. 1 and 3, the gravity-dropswings between the forwardly-side-extending ears b, thus preventing dustor other matter from being blown therein.

By merely pressing the letter or other package against the gravity-dropfrom the outside the same is forced to swing inwardly and allows of theletter dropping within the mailreceptacle, after the admission of whichthe letter-drop falls by gravity and reseats itself upon the edge d ofthe upwardly-extending wall D.

IVhile I have shown my attachment as applied to the top of the mail-box,it is obvious that the same may be secured to the ends thereof or in anyother desired position, and that the same may be cast integral with thebox proper or formed separately therefrom and bolted or otherwisesecured thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure protection in by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination, with a mail-box, of the hollow letter dropattachment suitably secured thereto, said attachment provided withforwardly-side-extending ears, and the forwardly-overlapping hood orprotector, and the gravity-drop movably secured between theforwardly-side-exten ding ears and adapted by pressure to be movedinwardly, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a letter-box, of the letter-drop attachmentconsisting of the hollow frame B, provided with a forwardlyoverlappinghood, f0rwardly-sideextending ears forming dust-protectors,gravity-operating drop inovably secured between the ears within hollowframe and adapted by pressure to be swung inwardly, the lower end orbottom of said drop being inclined or beveled and provided with aforwardly-extending seat adapted when closed to contact with the beveledend of the upwardly-extending wall D, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a mail-box for letters or the like, the combination of theinwardly-moving gravitydrop movablysecured betweenforwardly-sideextending ears and the overlapping flange or protector forsecuring against admission of rain, snow, or the like, as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. The combination, with a letter-drop attachment having an overlappinghood F), the forwardly-extending side ears Z), and the wall D, having abeveled upper edge, of a gravitydrop having its upper edge pivoted inthe overlapping hood in rear of the ears l) and its lower edge providedwith a seat adapted to engage the upper end of the wall D, the upper endof the drop being in advance of its lower end.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY N. KLEIN.

\Vitnesses:

N. A. AoKER, J. W. KEYS.

